Emma, Lady Hamilton

NAME Emma, Lady Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; later Emma Hart).

WHAT FAMOUS FOR She was the muse of painter George Romney, wife of diplomat Sir William Hamilton, and mistress of Admiral Horatio Nelson. Emma is also remembered for her celebrated “Attitudes” performances, which combined dramatic mime, dance, and classical poses

BIRTH Emma was born Amy Lyon on April 26, 1765 in the poor mining village of Ness, near Neston in Cheshire, England. She was baptised on May 12, 1765 with the name Emy Lyon, likely a misspelling of Amy.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Emma was the daughter of Henry Lyon, a blacksmith and collier, and Mary Kidd (later Cadogan), a domestic servant. Her father died when she was just two months old, leaving the family in dire poverty. Her maternal grandfather, Thomas Kidd, had worked as a collier until his death in 1761. The family likely emigrated from Lancashire, as Emma retained this accent throughout her life.

CHILDHOOD Following her father's death, Emma was raised by her widowed mother Mary and grandmother Sarah Kidd in the village of Hawarden in Flintshire, north-east Wales. The extended family lived in a small thatched cottage between a chemist and the Fox and Grapes pub. Amy's grandmother Sarah worked as a carter while her mother Mary took work as a seamstress before moving to London. Emma received no formal education and started work at age twelve as a maid at the Hawarden home of Dr Honoratus Leigh Thomas, a surgeon working in Chester.

EDUCATION Emma received no formal schooling in her childhood. However, under the guidance of her later lovers Charles Greville and Sir William Hamilton, she was tutored in languages, history, drawing, dancing, and singing from 1782 onwards. She became fluent in Italian and French within a year, demonstrating remarkable intelligence and adaptability.

CAREER RECORD Emma's career trajectory was extraordinary, rising from servant to international celebrity:

1777-1781: Domestic servant in London, working for various families including the Budds in Blackfriars

1778: Briefly worked as a model and dancer at Dr James Graham's "Temple of Health" in Westminster

1781-1782: Mistress to Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh at Uppark

1782-1786: Mistress to Charles Greville, changing her name to Emma Hart

1786-1791: Companion and later mistress to Sir William Hamilton in Naples

1791-1803: Wife of Sir William Hamilton, British Ambassador to Naples

1799-1805: Mistress to Admiral Lord Nelson

APPEARANCE Widely regarded as one of the great beauties of the Georgian era, Emma Hamilton possessed a striking figure with voluptuous curves. She had thick reddish-brown hair,, vermilion lips and famously expressive eyes, which were central to the success of her Attitudes performances. As she aged, particularly after 1800, Emma gained considerable weight due to her fondness for food and alcohol.

Pastel by Johann Heinrich Schmidt, c. 1800, owned by Nelson

FASHION Emma Hamilton was a notable fashion trendsetter. During her time in Naples, she wore loose-fitting clothes with draped fabrics tied with sashes, particularly for her "Attitudes" performances. She skilfully used Indian shawls as props, arranging them to create "Grecian, Turkish, and other drapery". Her style influenced contemporary fashion trends, with the high-waisted, small-busted Empire style becoming popular partly due to her influence. (1)

CHARACTER Emma Hamilton was renowned for her remarkable charisma, intelligence, and determination. Observers described her as having an “extraordinary trajectory” and a powerful inner drive. From humble beginnings, she displayed extraordinary adaptability and social skill, noted for her charm, personality, and her ability to navigate a world dominated by men. At the same time, some contemporaries criticised her as vulgar, particularly her pronunciation. (2)

Vivacious, ambitious, and quick-witted, Emma combined natural intelligence with warmth and generosity. She was loyal to those she loved—most notably Sir William Hamilton and Lord Nelson—but her impulsiveness and taste for extravagance ultimately hastened her financial downfall.

SPEAKING VOICE Emma retained her Lancashire accent throughout her life. Contemporary observers noted her "vulgar" pronunciation, suggesting she never completely refined her speech despite her social elevation. There is evidence that "she spoke as she wrote," indicating a direct, unpolished manner of communication. (3)

SENSE OF HUMOUR Her charisma and ability to entertain were central to her success as a society hostess, suggesting a lively and engaging sense of humour and quick wit.

RELATIONSHIPS Emma's relationships were central to her rise in society:

Harry Fetherstonhaugh (1781): At age 15, Emma became his mistress and hostess at his country estate, Uppark. She became pregnant by him in 1781, but he abandoned her soon after she revealed the pregnancy.

Charles Greville: Her patron and lover in the early 1780s, who essentially educated her in exchange for her exclusive company and modeling.

Sir William Hamilton: British Envoy to Naples, who was 35 years her senior. They married on September 6, 1791 in a quiet ceremony St Marylebone parish church, Middlesex, two days before the couple's return to Naples. It was a genuine affectionate relationship and Sir William was a supportive, older husband and partner until his death in 1803.

Sir William Hamilton by David Allan

 She had several pregnancies, but is known to have had two children who survived infancy: a daughter named Emma (from her youth) and Horatia Nelson (born 1801), her child with Lord Nelson, who was raised as a ward.

RELATIONSHIP WITH ADMIRAL LORD NELSON Emma, Lady Hamilton first encountered Horatio Nelson in Naples in 1793, though nothing came of it at the time. Five years later, however, Nelson returned, and Emma—an excitable admirer of his naval exploits—apparently flung herself upon him with such unrestrained enthusiasm that she cried out, “Oh God, is it possible?” before promptly fainting. It was not, as you might imagine, the sort of courtship move recommended in etiquette manuals, but it did the trick.

Nelson, for his part, was utterly smitten. So besotted was he, in fact, that the Admiralty felt obliged to remind him that his job was to command the Royal Navy against Napoleon, not to lounge around Naples making cow eyes at Emma Hamilton.

The romance produced a daughter, Horatia, discreetly delivered at Sir William Hamilton’s rented home in Piccadilly. Sir William, in the meantime, bore all this with a stoicism bordering on saintly. When he died in 1803, he did so in Emma’s arms while clasping Nelson’s hand, as if to underline just how very peculiar Victorian notions of propriety could be before the Victorians had even arrived.

When news came of Nelson’s death at Trafalgar two years later, Emma claimed she gave a scream and collapsed, then lay insensible for ten hours. This was, as reactions go, both dramatic and inconvenient. A few years later, in 1811, she attended a performance of The Americans, which featured the patriotic showstopper “Death of Nelson.” On hearing it sung, she became so overwhelmed that she worked herself into a fit of hysterics and had to be carried out of the theatre. Clearly, nobody ever accused Emma Hamilton of doing things by halves. (4)

This 1790 painting of Lady Hamilton by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, was hung by Nelson above his bed

MONEY AND FAME Emma achieved international celebrity status through her "Attitudes" performances and relationship with Nelson. However, her financial management was disastrous. After Sir William's death in 1803, she inherited a modest allowance insufficient for her lavish lifestyle. Following Nelson's death in 1805, despite his will requesting the nation provide for her, she was ignored by the government. She fell deeply into debt, was imprisoned for bankruptcy in 1813, and died in poverty in Calais in 1815.

FOOD AND DRINK Emma had a notable fondness for fine food and alcohol. Her love of drinking contributed significantly to her deteriorating health in her final years. She became increasingly alcoholic after Nelson's death, which, combined with her gambling habits, worsened her financial situation.

MUSIC AND ARTS Emma was a talented amateur singer and often entertained her guests. She was even courted by the Royal Opera in Madrid but declined the offer.

At sixteen, Amy Lyon found herself assisting the flamboyant quack doctor James Graham, a man of such considerable girth that he was almost as famous for his size as for his dubious cures. Graham promoted a mud bath as a miraculous beauty treatment, and to demonstrate its virtues, young Amy—dressed up as a Goddess of Love—was ceremoniously lowered into the bath until only her head remained visible.

A few years later, in 1787, now reinvented as Emma Hart, she devised what she called her “Attitudes,” or Mimoplastic art. Using little more than a few shawls and her remarkable expressiveness, she transformed herself into figures drawn from antiquity, from the tragic Medea to the regal Cleopatra. The performances dazzled audiences across Europe and elevated her into a society sensation. She influenced dance trends and artistic representation across Europe.

Lady Hamilton's "Attitudes"  portraying classical themes such as the Judgement of Paris.

Among those captivated was the English painter George Romney, who became so entranced with her that he produced over 70 portraits of Emma, ensuring that her image became nearly as celebrated as her performances. (4)

LITERATUREDespite her initial illiteracy, she became literate and was a prolific letter-writer, maintaining detailed correspondence with Lord Nelson that offers a deep insight into their relationship and the politics of the time. Her passionate letters to Nelson are described as "breathless, emphatic letters, full of underlinings and dashes". (5)

Emma Hamilton was the subject of numerous biographical works and was immortalised in literature about the Nelson era.

NATURE While her life was highly social, her key home in Naples, the Palazzo Sessa, offered spectacular views of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay, placing her in a magnificent natural environment, which was often depicted in art.

Her “Attitudes” often drew on natural and classical themes, reflecting her affinity for mythological and dramatic storytelling.

PETS Romney's first portrait of Emma shows her seated with a spaniel on her lap, possibly to hide her pregnancy. 

Lady Hamilton (as Nature) c.1782

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Her primary "hobby" was the practice and performance of the Attitudes. She enjoyed singing, dancing, socialising and gambling, which contributed to her financial difficulties. 

SCIENCE AND MATHS Her husband, Sir William Hamilton, was a noted antiquarian, archaeologist, and volcanologist, making Emma part of a highly educated and scientifically enlightened social circle.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY She was raised in an Anglican country, but her life was driven by secular ambition, romance, and artistic expression.

POLITICS Emma Hamilton played a crucial political role in Naples during the French Revolutionary Wars. She became a close friend and adviser to Queen Maria Carolina of Naples and Sicily. Emma acted as a mediator between the British government and the Neapolitan royal family, using her influence to secure the Kingdom of Naples' allegiance with Britain. She was controversially involved in the suppression of the Neapolitan revolution in 1799, supporting the Queen's harsh treatment of republicans.

SCANDAL Emma Hamilton's affair with Nelson while both were married created the biggest scandal of the age. Their relationship was conducted publicly, shocking high society. The scandal was compounded by Emma's humble origins and perceived vulgarity. Even after achieving respectability through marriage to Sir William Hamilton, she was never fully accepted by English aristocratic society.

The James Gilray caricature Dido in Despair published on February 6, 1801 satirizes the scandalous relationship between Nelson and Emma Hamilton casting them in the roles of Dido and Aeneas. Sir William Hamilton can be seen sleeping in the back. 

MILITARY RECORD Lady Hamilton helped secure provisions for Nelson's fleet before the Battle of the Nile and acted as a political agent and spy courier during the Napoleonic Wars. Her political influence was crucial in maintaining British interests in Naples during wartime.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS In her youth, she was robust, physically graceful, and possessed the stamina required for the often demanding Attitudes performances. In her final decade, her health deteriorated significantly due to the stress of her financial situation, depression, and alcoholism.

HOMES Emma lived in several significant residences:

Hawarden cottage: Her childhood home in Wales

London lodgings: Various addresses as mistress to Greville

Palazzo Sessa, Naples: Sir William Hamilton's residence where she lived from 1786

Merton Place: The home she shared with Nelson near Wimbledon, purchased for £9,000 in 1801. This became their domestic retreat, featuring gardens alongside the River Wandle with a tributary named "The Nile".

Her final years were spent in various impoverished and temporary lodgings, including a brief period in a debtor's prison, culminating in her death in Calais, France.

TRAVEL Lady Hamilton undertook significant European travel, including the journey from London to Naples (1786), and a famous, arduous overland journey through Austria and Germany back to England with Nelson and Hamilton through Europe in 1800–1801.

Her final journey took her across the English Channel in 1814 to Calais, France, fleeing creditors

DEATH Emma Hamilton died on January 15, 1815 in Calais, France, at the age of 49. She had fled to Calais in 1814 to escape her creditors, living in poverty and declining health. She died "insensible and insolvent," likely from cirrhosis of the liver caused by her alcoholism. (6)

She was buried in Calais on January 21, 1815, attended by her fourteen-year-old daughter Horatia. Her remains were later lost when the cemetery was relocated, though recent investigations suggest they may have been found.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Emma Hamilton has been portrayed in numerous films, books, and artworks:

That Hamilton Woman (1941): The most famous film portrayal starring Vivien Leigh as Emma and Laurence Olivier as Nelson

Romney's portraits: Over 70 paintings making her one of the most painted women of her era

Biographical literature: Numerous biographies and historical novels have been written about her life, including those by George MacDonald Fraser.

Recent media: Her story continues to inspire exhibitions, documentaries, and academic studies

ACHIEVEMENTS Rose from humble beginnings to become the muse of George Romney.

Created the art form of the “Attitudes,” which blended acting, posing, and dance.

Entertained European society with her singing and performances.

Played a key role in the personal life of Admiral Nelson, one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes.

Sources: (1) Royal Museums Gtreenwich (2) Vivianandlarry.com (3) London Review of Books (4) Encyclopaedia of Trivia (5) Sophie Campbell Blog (6) Global Maritime History

Nell Gwyn

NAME Eleanor "Nell" Gwyn

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Mistress of King Charles II, celebrated Restoration actress, and enduring symbol of wit, charm, and resilience.

BIRTH Nell Gwyn was born on February 2, 1650, though where exactly is still debated. Three cities lay claim to her: London, Hereford, and Oxford. A plaque in Gwynne Street, Hereford, proudly marks the spot, but most evidence points to Coal Yard Alley off Drury Lane in Covent Garden, London, as the likeliest birthplace.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Her father was Thomas Gwyn, described as a Captain in the Royalist army during the English Civil War who died in a debtors' prison at Oxford during Nell's infancy. Her mother was Ellen (Helena) Gwyn, also known as "Old Madam Gwyn" or "Madam Gwyn," who ran a brothel in Covent Garden. Nell had an elder sister named Rose. The family name "Gwyn" suggests Welsh origins.

CHILDHOOD Nell grew up in extreme poverty in London's Covent Garden district, raised in her mother's "bawdy house" (brothel). From an early age, she and her sister Rose helped in the family business, with Nell serving "strong waters" (brandy) to customers. She was brought up "to fill strong waters to the guests" according to Samuel Pepys. Her childhood was marked by hardship, and she never learned to read or write. This difficult upbringing contributed to her street-smart wit and resilience. (1)

EDUCATION Nell received no formal education and remained illiterate throughout her life, a fact she never hid. She signed her letters with a scrawled "E.G." as she was unable to write. However, she became renowned for her natural charm, conversational talents, and quick wit learned in London taverns and through her experiences. Her education came from life experience and the theatrical training she received from actors like Charles Hart.

CAREER RECORD  Around 1662-1663, Nell began as an "orange girl" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, selling oranges and sweetmeats to theater audiences.

Around 1665 she made her stage debut around 1665 at age 15 as Cydaria in John Dryden's The Indian Emperor. 

1666 to 1669, she was the leading comedienne of the King's Company. Notable roles included Florimel in Dryden's "Secret Love" and other parts specifically written for her by Dryden. 

1670 She retired from the stage around 1670 to focus on her relationship with King Charles II.

APPEARANCE Nell was petite and shapely with a pretty heart-shaped face, hazel (or green) eyes, and curly chestnut (red-gold) hair. She was considered an attractive woman, though her appeal was often noted to be more a product of her vivacious personality than her conventional beauty. Her Celtic features supported possible Welsh ancestry.

Nell Gwyn: Portrait by Simon Pietersz Verelst

FASHION Her style as an actress was lively and suggestive. She wore breeches parts with panache, delighting audiences who were scandalised and amused in equal measure.

As a royal mistress, she was able to wear the finest fashions of the Restoration era. Portraits of her often show her in rich, luxurious gowns. However, she was known to have a playful disdain for the rigid fashion of court and famously mocked the elaborate French fashions worn by her rival, Louise de Kéroualle, the Duchess of Portsmouth.

CHARACTER Nell Gwyn wasplain-speaking, funny, cheeky, generous, and possessed a strong wit. She was known for her frank recklessness, invariable good temper, ready wit, infectious high spirits, and amazing indiscretions. 

Unlike other royal mistresses, she was not demanding or greedy and never forgot her humble origins. She was generous to the poor and maintained friendships with her less fortunate theater colleagues. Even her critics admitted she had remarkable charm.

SPEAKING VOICE  Nell possessed a strong, clear voice that served her well as an actress. 

Her voice was noted for its distinct Cockney accent and commoner’s slang, which was a source of both amusement and affection for the public. It stood in sharp contrast to the refined, aristocratic tones of her rivals.

Her Cockney wit and ready tongue made her an excellent speaker of "impudent prologues and epilogues" on stage. (1)

SENSE OF HUMOUR Nell Gwyn was famous for her legendary wit and humor. She nicknamed her royal lover's other mistresses, calling Louise de Kéroualle "Squintabella" for her looks and "The Weeping Willow" for her tendency to cry. When mistaken for the Catholic Louise by an angry mob, she famously declared, "Good people, you are mistaken; I am the Protestant whore!". She told Charles II he was "Charles the Third" to her, having had two other Charleses before him.

RELATIONSHIPS Nell had several significant relationships. Her first affair was with actor Charles Hart (whom she called "Charles the First"), who trained her for acting. She then became involved with Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset ("Charles the Second").

Her most famous relationship was with King Charles II. While walking in St James’ Park in 1668, King Charles II first noticed Nell Gwyn and was instantly captivated. By then a single mother, Nell soon became the king’s mistress, a relationship that stirred endless court gossip. Unlike many of Charles’s other liaisons, theirs was marked by warmth and genuine affection, and Nell’s quick wit kept her popular with the public. She famously nicknamed the king “Charles the Third,” having already been linked with Charles Hart and Charles Sackville. 

With Charles II, she bore two sons: Charles Beauclerk (1670), later created Duke of St Albans—thanks, it was said, to Nell threatening to dangle him out of a window if the king did not grant him a title—and James Beauclerk (1671), who died young. 

Charles and James Beauclerk, the two sons of Charles II and Nell Gwyn, in a 1679 engraving.

Nell and Charles' bond endured until the king’s death in 1685, when one of his final requests was the touching plea: “Let not poor Nelly starve.”

MONEY AND FAME Nell Gwyn's fame as an actress was considerable, but her relationship with the king brought her immense wealth and notoriety.

Nell received generous financial support from Charles II, including annual pensions, occasional monetary gifts, a house at 79 Pall Mall in London, Burford House at Windsor, and the 3,723-acre Bestwood Park estate in Nottinghamshire in 1681. 

Despite her substantial gifts and income from King Charles II, Nell Gwyn struggled with debt because of her lavish spending and her generous, charitable nature. She made extravagant purchases, claimed expenses for many comforts, and lived in a way that her spending often outstripped her resources—especially after the king’s death when creditors became more aggressive. Contemporary accounts and later biographies confirm that James II paid off many of Nell's debts after Charles II’s death, honoring the late king’s request that she not be left destitute.

Nell Gwyn was widely recognized for her charitable acts. She gave generously to friends, supported fellow actors, and left money in her will to charity, particularly to secure the release of poor debtors—reportedly mindful of her own father's fate of dying in prison.

It is also widely believed—though debated among historians—that Nell Gwyn was an advocate for the founding of the Royal Hospital Chelsea for veterans. While there is no definitive contemporary documentary proof she directly persuaded Charles II to build it, the tradition remains strong that she played a moral or personal influence on the king's decision,

She had a substantial fortune by her death, including nearly 15,000 ounces of silver plate and a four-figure bank balance. 

FOOD AND DRINK Nell Gwyn was raised in an environment where she served "strong waters" (brandy) to brothel customers. Her mother's death by drowning in a pond while intoxicated with brandy is a well-documented event.

Nell Gwyn was an orange seller at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in her early teens. Hired by Mary Meggs ("Orange Moll"), Nell and her sister Rose sold oranges, lemons, and sweetmeats to the audience, while also acting as go-betweens for messages between audience members and actresses. 

Image by Perplexity

As a royal mistress, she would have enjoyed the finest foods and wines available to the court.

ACTING CAREER Nell Gwyn’s acting career was as improbable as it was dazzling. She arrived on stage in her mid-teens, around 1664, just as women were first being allowed to act professionally—something that seemed so radical at the time it was practically indecent. Nell, however, took to it with the breezy confidence of someone born for a spotlight. She quickly made herself indispensable to the King’s Company at Drury Lane, specialising in lively, flirtatious heroines who seemed only half a step removed from her own irrepressible personality.

She often performed alongside Charles Hart, with whom she created what became known as the “gay couple” act—a kind of Restoration-era rom-com pairing that audiences couldn’t get enough of. Playwrights, particularly John Dryden, began writing parts tailored to her strengths: comic timing, singing, dancing, and an ability to toss off witty lines with the ease of someone ordering a pint. Samuel Pepys himself joined the fan club, calling her “pretty, witty Nell,” a label that stuck for the rest of her life.

Though her stage career lasted barely five years, it was enough to make her one of the Restoration’s brightest stars and, crucially, to show that acting could be a profession for women rather than just a scandalous sideline. That she went on to become mistress to the King was almost incidental; the public loved her long before she ever set eyes on Charles II.

MUSIC AND ARTS Nell Gwyn was an accomplished singer and dancer, skills that contributed to her success on stage. 

She was painted by leading artists including Peter Lely and Simon Verelst and was depicted as Venus in one notable painting with her son as Cupid. 

LITERATURE Though illiterate herself, Nell Gwyn was closely associated with literary figures, particularly playwright John Dryden, who wrote specific roles for her talents. 

She was the subject of many poems, ballads, and pamphlets during her lifetime, which both celebrated and satirized her. The diarist Samuel Pepys frequently mentioned her in his famous diary. Her life has been the subject of numerous biographies, novels, and stage plays since her death.

NATURE Nell Gwyn enjoyed outdoor activities, particularly at royal hunting estates like Bestwood Park and Newmarket. She and Charles II would swim in the Fleet River on summer mornings. At Bestwood Park, she famously rode around the estate's boundaries before breakfast to secure the land grant.

PETS A statue of Nell Gwyn above the main entrance of Nell Gwynn House in London depicts her with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a breed named after her royal lover. This reflects her association with the king and his beloved dogs.

Nell Gwyn statue Photograph by: London Remembers

HOBBIES AND SPORTS  Nell Gwyn enjoyed gambling, particularly card games like basset where she reportedly lost significant sums. 

She loved horse racing and frequently attended races at Newmarket with Charles II. 

She also enjoyed fishing and taught the king how to fish at their country retreats.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Born into a Protestant country and a Catholic king's court, Nell Gwyn was known as the "Protestant whore" and a staunch supporter of the Church of England. She was a rival to the Catholic Duchess of Portsmouth, and their religious differences were often a topic of public discussion. Her faith was reportedly sincere, and she received comfort from a Protestant clergyman on her deathbed.

Despite her bawdy reputation, Nell’s burial sermon focused on repentance and forgiveness. Archbishop Tenison chose Luke 15:7: “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (2)

POLITICS  Though not a direct political figure, Nell Gwyn had a significant influence on the king and was a public symbol of the Protestant cause against the Catholic influence of her rivals. Her popularity with the common people gave her a form of political capital that other mistresses lacked and helped humanize the monarchy during the Restoration period.

SCANDAL Nell Gwyn's life was one long scandal by the standards of the day. Her rise from a commoner and orange-girl to a royal mistress was a source of constant fascination and gossip. Her unashamed life as a courtesan was a public spectacle, but her wit and loyalty to the king helped to distinguish her from other court scandals.

MILITARY RECORD Her father Thomas Gwyn served as a Captain in Prince Rupert's Horse during the English Civil War. Her charitable work supporting old soldiers and her alleged role in inspiring Chelsea Hospital's founding connected her to military causes.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Nell Gwyn's health declined in her later years. She suffered from a series of strokes and partial paralysis in 1687, which may have been caused by syphilis and spent her final months bedridden in her Pall Mall home. Nell passed away at the early age of 37

HOMES When Nell Gwyn was an actress, she resided in modest lodgings near the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, as she quickly rose from being an orange seller to a leading comic actress there in the 1660s. 

Nell Gwyn's Lodging, Drury Lane, February 1881 by Philip Norman

After she became the king's mistress, Nell moved to grander residences provided by Charles II. Her main residences included 79 Pall Mall in London (given to her by Charles II in 1671), Burford House in Windsor, and Bestwood Park in Nottinghamshire. She may have had other properties including a house in Newmarket built by Christopher Wren. Her Pall Mall residence is marked by a Blue Plaque today.

TRAVEL Nell Gwyn traveled between her various residences and accompanied Charles II to royal locations including Newmarket for horse racing, Windsor Castle, and other royal retreats. Her travels were primarily within England, centered around London and the king's various properties.

DEATH Nell Gwyn died of apoplexy on November 14, 1687, at 10 PM in her Pall Mall house in London. She was 37 years old. Before her death, she revised her will to leave generous bequests to servants and the poor. She died less than three years after Charles II's death in 1685. 

Dr. Thomas Tenison, later Archbishop of Canterbury, preached her funeral sermon on November 17. She was buried at St. Martin-in-the-Fields church.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Nell Gwyn's life has been extensively portrayed in literature, theater, and film. Notable works include plays such as Good King Charles's Golden Days by George Bernard Shaw and Jessica Swale's 2016 play Nell Gwynn, which won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Films like Mistress Nell (1915) starring Mary Pickford, Nell Gwyn (1934) starring Anna Neagle and Stage Beauty (2004). Modern biographical novels include works by Susan Holloway Scott, Priya Parmar, and Gillian Bagwell. 

ACHIEVEMENTS Became one of the first professional actresses in England.

Achieved immense popularity and fame as a comedic stage performer.

Maintained a unique, beloved relationship with King Charles II.

Secured titles and financial security for her two sons by the King.

Left a lasting legacy as a cultural icon of the Restoration era, celebrated for her wit, charm, and rags-to-riches story.

Sources: (1) Encyclopedia Britannica (2) Encyclopaedia of Trivia

Eva Braun

NAME Eva Anna Paula Braun

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Eva Braun is famous for being the longtime companion and, briefly, the wife of Adolf Hitler.

BIRTH Eva Braun was born on February 6, 1912, in Munich, Germany.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Eva was the second daughter of Friedrich "Fritz" Braun, a school teacher, and Franziska "Fanny" Kronberger, a seamstress. She had two sisters, Ilse and Margarete (Gretl).

CHILDHOOD Eva grew up in a middle-class family in Munich. Her childhood was relatively normal and unremarkable, characterized by the stability of a traditional Bavarian family.

EDUCATION Eva attended a Catholic lyceum in Munich, followed by a year at a business school where she learned shorthand and typing. She was not an exceptional student and had a rather average academic record.

CAREER RECORD After completing her education, Eva worked as a receptionist and assistant to Heinrich Hoffmann, Adolf Hitler's personal photographer. This job led to her introduction to Hitler.

APPEARANCE Eva Braun was known for her attractive appearance, with light brown hair and a fair complexion. She was of average height and had a slender build.

Eva Braun's studio portrait, late 1930s.

FASHION In a regime obsessed with austerity and uniformity, Eva Braun stood out for her love of stylish clothes.  She wore fitted suits and elegant dresses – a stark contrast to the drab browns and blacks favored by the Nazi rank and file.  Here was a woman who, even amidst the gathering storm, clung to a sense of normalcy, a touch of glamour in a world gone increasingly mad.

CHARACTER Eva was described as lively, outgoing, and somewhat frivolous. She enjoyed socializing and the luxuries that came with her association with Hitler, but she remained largely apolitical.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Eva had a playful and light-hearted sense of humor, often engaging in jokes and pranks. She was known to bring a sense of normalcy and relaxation to Hitler’s private life.

RELATIONSHIPS Eva Braun first met Adolf Hitler in 1929 at a photographer's studio in Munich when she was a fresh-faced 17-year-old and he, rather troublingly, was already 40. But unlike the steely Brunhildas of Nazi propaganda, Braun wasn't built for parades and public pronouncements. She preferred the quiet life, a stark contrast to the bombastic world Hitler was building.

Despite the age gap and the looming shadow of the Third Reich, Braun remained by Hitler's side throughout his rise to power.  She wasn't exactly Lady Macbeth, urging him on. In fact, she mostly stayed out of the public eye, content with her private life and a passion for photography.  Some saw this as a harmless hobby, a way to capture candid moments of Hitler relaxing with his inner circle (which, let's face it, wouldn't have made for the most thrilling photo album).  Others, perhaps a tad more cynical, suggest she might have been using the camera to control her own image, a power move in a world that otherwise offered her none.

The relationship wasn't without its drama, of course. There were suicide attempts – one by gunshot, the other by pills – which some historians dismiss as melodramatic cries for attention, while others see as genuine cries of despair from a woman trapped in a gilded cage.

In the bunker's final throes, with Berlin crumbling around them, Braun finally became Hitler's wife in a hastily arranged ceremony on April 29, 1945. It was a strange coda to a strange relationship, ending just a day later with a shared cyanide capsule.  Eva Braun, the enigma in stylish heels, remained by Hitler's side to the very bitter end.

Image by Gemini

MONEY AND FAME Eva lived comfortably due to her relationship with Hitler, enjoying privileges and luxuries. However, she remained relatively unknown to the public during most of her life, only becoming widely recognized posthumously.

FOOD AND DRINK Eva enjoyed fine dining and had access to the best foods and beverages available. There are accounts of her partaking in lavish meals and indulging in sweets.

She was fond of turtle soup and would direct that midnight snacks of turtle soup, sandwiches, and sausages be prepared.

MUSIC AND ARTS Eva had an appreciation for music and the arts, often attending concerts and the theater. She enjoyed photography and filmed many home movies, capturing private moments with Hitler and his inner circle.

LITERATURE Her personal letters and diaries provide insight into her life and relationship with Hitler.

NATURE Eva enjoyed outdoor activities such as skiing, swimming, and hiking. She spent time at Hitler’s mountain retreat, the Berghof, where she could enjoy the natural surroundings.

PETS Eva Braun had two Scottish Terriers named Negus and Stasi. There are photos of her with these dogs in her home movies. She apparently kept them away from Hitler's German Shepherd, Blondi.

Hitler once forgot Eva’s birthday when she had hoped for a dachshund gift. "He was here — but no dog," she wrote in her diary.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Eva was an avid photographer and enjoyed making home movies. She was also a skilled swimmer and skier, enjoying active leisure pursuits despite the restrictions of her relationship.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Eva was raised Catholic but did not express strong philosophical or theological beliefs. Her writings and actions suggest that she was more concerned with personal pleasures and loyalty to Hitler than with deeper ideological commitments.

SCANDAL Eva Braun's relationship with Hitler was controversial and scandalous due to his role as the Führer and the secrecy surrounding their relationship. Her presence at the center of the Nazi regime’s inner circle added to the intrigue and controversy.

Braun and Hitler, June 1942 By Bundesarchiv, 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Eva was generally healthy and physically active, enjoying sports and outdoor activities. However, she did attempt suicide twice in the early years of her relationship with Hitler, possibly due to the pressures and constraints of their relationship.

HOMES Eva lived in various residences provided by Hitler, including a Munich apartment and the Berghof in the Bavarian Alps. In the final days of World War II, she stayed with Hitler in the Führerbunker in Berlin.

TRAVEL Eva traveled extensively within Germany and to the territories occupied by Nazi forces. She accompanied Hitler on many of his trips, although she remained largely in the background.

DEATH Eva Braun died by suicide on April 30, 1945, in the Führerbunker in Berlin. Less than 40 hours after marrying Hitler in a brief civil ceremony, Braun took her own life by biting and swallowing a cyanide capsule. Hitler, at her side, shot himself in the head. They died as Soviet forces closed in on central Berlin, marking the collapse of Nazi Germany.

Braun swallowing the cyanide capsule by Gemini

In accordance with Hitler’s explicit instructions, the bodies of both Braun and Hitler were immediately carried by their aides-Heinz Linge, Otto Günsche, and others-upstairs from the bunker to the garden behind the Reich Chancellery. There, the corpses were doused with petrol (gasoline) and set alight as Soviet artillery shells fell nearby. The burning was intended to prevent their remains from being captured and displayed by the advancing Red Army.

Eyewitnesses reported that the burning reduced the bodies to charred remains, but did not completely destroy them. The remains were hastily buried in a shallow bomb crater in the garden.

After Berlin fell, Soviet troops discovered the partially burned remains of Hitler, Braun, and others (including Joseph Goebbels and his family). The Soviets performed autopsies and attempted to identify the bodies, reportedly using dental records for confirmation. The remains were then moved multiple times by Soviet authorities, before being eventually buried at the Soviet counterintelligence agency (SMERSH) compound in Magdeburg, East Germany. 

In April 1970, amid fears that the burial site might be discovered and become a neo-Nazi shrine, the KGB exhumed the remains. The remains, which had been placed in several wooden boxes, were thoroughly burned, crushed, and mixed together. The resulting ashes were then scattered into the river Ehle, a tributary of the Elbe, near Biederitz, east of Magdeburg, at a site known as the "Pig Bridge" (Schweinebrücke

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Eva Braun has been portrayed in various films, documentaries, and books about the Nazi era. Her home movies and photographs have been used to provide a personal glimpse into Hitler’s private life.

ACHIEVEMENTS Eva Braun’s life is primarily noted for her intimate relationship with Adolf Hitler rather than personal achievements. Her detailed home movies and photographs have provided historians with valuable insights into the private life of one of history’s most infamous figures.

Source: (1) Knopp, Guido (2003). Hitler's Women.

Anne Boleyn

NAME Anne Boleyn

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Second wife of King Henry VIII.

BIRTH born sometime between 1501 - 1507 at Blicking Hall, Norfolk. I cannot be more accurate as a lack of parish records from the period has made it impossible to establish Anne's date of birth.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Her father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire (1477-1539), was a wealthy diplomat whose offices included ambassador to France and Envoy to Holy Roman Emperor. Anne's mum, Elizabeth Howard was the daughter of the 2nd Duke of Norfolk. Later tradition would claim that the Boleyns were practically middle-class, but recent research has proven that Anne Boleyn was born a "great lady". Her great-grandparents included a Lord Mayor of London, a duke, an earl, two aristocratic ladies and a knight

Anne's older sister, Mary was a mistress to Henry VIII for four years, before Anne and Henry were an item. Her brother George was born some time around 1504.

CHILDHOOD Anne and her siblings grew up at Hever Castle in Kent and she later accompanied her father to France when he was posted there as an ambassador.

EDUCATION Anne's father secured a place for her with Margaret, Archduchess of Austria and daughter of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, for Anne to be educated in the Netherlands where it is believed she lived from the spring of 1513 to the autumn of 1514. 

She moved to France, where she was lady-in waiting initially to Henry VIII's sister Mary, who was about to marry Louis XII of France. Then she spent seven years as lady-in-waiting to Mary's stepdaughter Queen Claude of France. During her time in France, Anne resided primarily in the Loire Valley palaces of Amboise and Blois, as Queen Claude preferred these locations to the Parisian court. In the Queen's household, Anne completed her study of French as well as acquiring a thorough knowledge of French culture and etiquette. For all practical purposes, she was a Frenchwoman.

Anne's European education ended in the winter of 1521, when she was summoned back to England on her father's orders, sailing from Calais around January 1522.

 Image depicting Anne Boleyn aboard a ship near Calais in January 1522

Anne's time in France significantly shaped her character and skills. She returned to England as a sophisticated and accomplished young woman, fluent in French, well-versed in French fashion, and skilled in singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments. These attributes would later help her stand out at the English court.

CAREER RECORD Before she'd reached her teens, Anne's father arranged for her to attend Henry VIII's sister, Mary Tudor, Queen of France, for Mary's marriage to Louis XII of France. 

She went on to be a maid of honour to Queen Claude of France, with whom she stayed nearly seven years. 

Anne was later promoted by Henry VIII from a maid to marchioness before being crowned Queen on June 1, 1533. She was Queen for a thousand days but failed in her prime duty of royal breeding machine.

APPEARANCE Reputedly, Anne has six fingers on one hand despite the popular prejudice falling in favour of five and a strawberry birth mark on her throat. In fact she had two finger tips on the end of one finger. Anne wasn't all fingers and thumbs, having beautiful coal black eyes with long dark hair, long neck, swarthy complexion, middling to pert stature. Anne wasn't a physical beauty but had the ability to exploit her vivaciousness.

Her enemies exaggerated her defects, claiming she was a witch with three nipples and six fingers.

Near contemporary painting of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle, c. 1550

FASHION Anne Boleyn was known for her distinctive and elegant fashion sense. She popularized the French hood in England and was often seen wearing gowns of rich fabrics and elaborate headdresses.

Anne wore special gloves to hide her extra finger.

CHARACTER Anne's personality was complex, and it has been greatly distorted by those opposed to her marriage and religious views. She was also a very loyal woman who gave generously to charity and, contrary to popular myth, was extremely emotional. In her youth she was "sweet and cheerful," enjoyed gambling, drinking wine and gossiping. She was also brave and charismatic and her personal motto loosely translated as "This will be, no matter who grumbles!" She was also well-educated, bold, resolute and charming. Yet Anne could also be extravagant, neurotic, indiscreet, bossy and possessed a quick temper and savage tongue.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Anne had a quick wit and a sharp tongue. She was known for her lively and sometimes biting sense of humor.

She was prone to bouts of hysterical laughter.

RELATIONSHIPS Anne was taken to court in early life, and was courted first around 1522 by Lord Henry Percy, the son of the Earl of Northumberland. Some say that they became lovers, while others maintain that it was just a simple courtship. The latter was probably true, for Anne was far too intelligent to waste what value she had on a few nights' passion that were to avail her nothing. Her elder sister, Mary Boleyn had been sexually 'adventurous' in France, and Anne had been deeply humiliated as a result.

Around the spring of 1523, Anne and Percy were secretly betrothed. Lord Henry's father refused to sanction the marriage when he heard of it from Cardinal Wolsey, who was possibly acting upon the King's instructions to leave Anne free for him. Anne was sent from court to Hever Castle in Kent. It is not known how long she remained away from court, although she was certainly back by mid-1525.

Henry, who for four years had dated Anne's big sis was attracted to her and at Shrovetide 1526 he began the serious pursuit. Anne refused to become the King's mistress, but began a correspondence with him, (The Vatican library preserves 12 love letters he wrote to her) and Henry proposed marriage to her sometime in 1527 (probably around New Year), while he sought a divorce from Katherine of Aragon. 

After some hesitation, she agreed. Anne and Henry finally slept together for the first time in late 1532 at Calais, and her reasons for submitting at this point are difficult to fathom. They married in secret on January 25, 1533 and Archbishop Cranmer blessed the marriage a few months later. The couple had fingers crossed for a male heir but there were only several miscarriages, a still birth and the illegitimate Elizabeth, who was conceived before they married. Anne and Henry were soon heading for splitsville, the result being she became the new kid on the block.

King Henry and Anne Boleyn Deer shooting in Windsor Forest by William Powell Frith, 1903

Anne was obviously very alluring. The French ambassador, de la Pommeraye, was completely captivated by her and paid tribute to her formidable intellect and influence over English foreign policy. The diplomat John Barlow was devoted to her, and spied for her in Rome. Later in life this ability to attract fanatical male devotion back-fired spectacularly when she found herself the object of feverish unrequited love from a Dutch musician in her household called Marc Smeaton.

MONEY AND FAME Once she became the king's mistress, Anne became the victim of a public hate campaign, mobilised by Katherine of Aragon's supporters, and in 1531 a crowd of 8,000 women marched through the streets of London in an attempt to lynch her.

Anne's coronation on June 1, 1533 was marked by the people's hostility, and the crowds refused to remove their hats as a sign of respect for their new queen. When asked what she had made of London at her coronation, Anne replied, "I liked the City well-enough, but I saw few caps in the air and heard few tongues."

Image by Perplexity

FOOD AND DRINK Anne had a rather off-putting habit, first observed during her coronation banquet, of vomiting during meals. So one of her ladies in waiting had to hold up a sheet to shield her from other diners at appropriate moments.

In her younger days Anne created a recipe for a small tart with an almond, curd cheese and lemon filling. Henry was so enchanted he named the creator of the cake maid of honour.

MUSIC AND ARTS Anne had a keen interest in music and was accomplished at playing the lute and other instruments.  Ole dark eye's ballads included "O Deathe oche me on Sepe" which is said to have moved her husband.

William Forrest, author of a contemporary poem about Catherine of Aragon, complimented Anne's "passing excellent" skill as a dancer. "Here", he wrote, "was [a] fresh young damsel, that could trip and go."

LITERATURE Anne Boleyn was well-read and possessed a library of books, many of which were of a religious or philosophical nature, reflecting her intellectual interests.

Fluent in French, some of Anne's love letters between her and Henry were in French.

Final words from Anne Boleyn's Book of Hours, "Remember me when you do pray. That hope doth lead from day to day."

NATURE  She was a great animal lover and had a dog called Purkoy. and a wolfhound called Vrian who was allegedly beheaded along with her.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Quite sporty, Anne went riding and hunting with Henry. However during a deer shoot with the king, she ruined her chances of winning Sports Personality of the Year when she shot... a cow.

Anne also played indoor bowls with the king. Presumably her extra finger came in handy for imparting extra spin.

Anne was a great card player and she won loads of dosh and other things when she played Henry for money.

Legend has it that a 19th-century painting based on a disputed sketch by Hans Holbein the Younger of Anne is the basis for the queens in a deck of cards. However, the actual inspiration was Anne's mother-in-law Elizabeth of York.

The queen was watching some real tennis when she was arrested and taken off to the Tower before she had a chance to collect her winnings.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Her education included basic arithmetic, which was essential for managing household affairs.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Despite being a Catholic herself, Anne was sympathetic towards the new Bible based Protestantism and Martin Luther viewed her rise to the throne as a positive sign.

Her support for religious reform and her influence on King Henry VIII contributed to the eventual establishment of the Church of England.

Her interest in theology is evident from her support of the English Reformation and her personal library.

When Anne was executed in 1536 for alleged adultery and incest, her last words being “Christ have mercy on my soul.”

SCANDAL Henry VIII was passionately in love with Anne and despite being already married to Catherine of Aragon he was concerned about letting her slip through his fingers. When the king appointed as archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer as archbishop of Canterbury, one of the first things he did was declare the former marriage void and gave his blessing to the proposed marriage thus incurring the wrath of the pope. Henry and Anne were excommunicated and in the next year Parliament passed an Act of Supremacy which made the king head of the Church of England and severe penalties for anyone who opposed Henry's marriage to Anne. 

However, Anne's lack of success on the child bearing front was causing concern and when she miscarried, Henry thought the marriage was damned. On April 26, 1536, Anne met with her chaplain, the Protestant reformer Matthew Parker, and asked him to watch over her daughter if anything happened to her.

Anne was watching a game of real tennis on May 2, 1536 when she was arrested on charges of incest with her half brother, infidelity with four others, treason and witchcraft. 

That esteemed historian Jane Austen wrote in her History of England, "It is however but justice and my duty to declare that this amiable woman was entirely innocent of the crimes with which she was accused and of which her beauty, her elegance and her sprightliness were sufficient proofs, not to mention her solemn protestations of innocence, the weakness of the charges against her and the king's character;"

MILITARY RECORD While Anne Boleyn did not have a military record in the traditional sense, her marriage to Henry VIII had profound political and military implications. The annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon and his marriage to Anne led to England's break with the Roman Catholic Church, influencing the political and military landscape of Europe.

HOMES Anne Boleyn spent her early years at Hever Castle in Kent, and after her marriage to Henry VIII, she resided in several royal palaces, including Greenwich Palace, where she gave birth to Elizabeth I. Her final days were spent in the Tower of London, where she was imprisoned before her execution.

TRAVEL Anne Boleyn's formative years included time spent in the Netherlands and France, where she received an education that would later influence her views on religion and politics. Her travels played a crucial role in shaping her perspectives and her future role as Queen of England.

DEATH Anne died May 19, 1536 (aged 29-35 depending on when she was actually born... I must sort out those darn parish records) The queen was fingered for incest with her half brother and infidelity with four others. When told of the charge he said "Oh, Lord help me as I am guiltless of that where I am charged." She continued to protest her innocence, but Henry didn't lift a finger, in fact he was probably behind the trumped up charges as by this time the cad was in love with Jane Seymour. 

Anne was sentenced to be beheaded at Tower Green, London. She requested to be executed by sword and the service of a skilled executioner of Calais was engaged, who used a sword for the beheading according to French practice instead of the axe used by English executioners. 

Anne rehearsed the beheading the night before and the execution itself had to be delayed so she had to walk around the block weeping and laughing in turns. Her last words were probably sarcastic about her husband, "A gentler or more merciful prince was there never. To me he was ever a good, gentle and sovereign lord. Christ have mercy on my soul." Anne refused to be blindfolded and the executioner found her so disarming he persuaded someone to attract her attention so he could steal up silently behind her to carry out the death penalty.

Meanwhile Henry was in Epping forest taking part in a hunt waiting for a signal to proclaim the news that "it" had been done.

Anne was buried in the chapel of St Peter at the Tower of London in a box that had contained arrows. Henry wore white to her funeral. A day later he was betrothed to Jane Seymour.

When the chapel was restored in 1876, Queen Victoria had the 1,500 bodies buried there exhumed and properly reburied including Anne.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA 1. Three big film appearances
1936 Played by Merle Oberon in The Private Life of Henry 8th .
1971 Played by Genevieve Bujold in Anne of a Thousand Days.
2008 Played by Natalie Portman in The Other Boleyn Girl (Incidentally, one of uncredited lawyers in the court scene was yours truly)

2. Dorothy Tutin was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for her role as Anne in the 1970 mini-series Henry 8th and his Six Wives and Natalie Dormer portrayed Anne in the Showtime series The Tudors (2007-10)

3. Donizetti wrote an opera Anne Bolena (1830).

4. You may not be aware of the 1936 novelty song "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm" but its worth checking out. Click here to listen to the ditty and read its songfacts.

ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Giving birth to Queen Elizabeth
2. It was in order to marry Anne that Henry divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon and thus initiated the quarrel with the pope that led to the English reformation. In other words if Anne had been born with a double chin and cauliflower ears maybe the Church of England would never have been born. On the other hand she did have six fingers.
3. The first babe.
4. Anne played an enormous role in England's international position, by solidifying the French alliance in 1531. She established an excellent rapport with the French ambassador, de la Pommeraye, who was captivated by her.
5. When, in 1532, Henry gave her the title Marchioness of Pembroke, it was the first time a woman had ever been created a peer in her own right.

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